In response to the show’s popularity, Deen and food writer Melissa Carter have written a cookbook, “From Mama’s Table to Mine: Everybody’s Favorite Comfort Foods at 350 Calories or Less,” released just after the show’s first anniversary.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” Deen says. “It’s what I was hoping for in the beginning.

“Work begets more work. That was the plan. Hopefully there will be more cookbooks to follow.”

On Feb. 15, Deen will be featured with designer and Southern Living editor Kimberly Schelgel Whitman in a special lifestyle presentation at the Savannah Book Festival, with a special appearance by his brother, Jamie. Whitman’s new book is “The Party Planner.”

Recently, the Deens were featured on the cover of People magazine. The entire family has slimmed down and shaped up.

As a young man, Deen was 25 pounds overweight. “I became interested in exercising 10 years ago when I was 30,” he says. “I began looking at food as fuel.

“The body is more like a car engine and food and exercise go hand in hand with that,” Deen says. “I adopted a healthy diet and was lifting weights a lot. Now I do aerobics and a lot of running, so I shifted my weight around.”

The upcoming presentation will include a cooking demonstration. “I’m sure we’ll do a couple of recipes,” Deen says.

“There’ll be a question-and-answer session,” he says. “My whole family is at its best when speaking to an audience.

“We love to interact with people,” Deen says. “I like people and I like talking with them, whether it’s about food, my mama or Savannah.”

Deen began working for his mother when he was 18 and had just graduated from high school. He was the delivery man for her home business, The Bag Lady.

When the home-based business turned into the restaurant The Lady and Sons, Deen was based in the front of the house, where he took care of customers. When his mother’s cooking show aired on the Food Network, Deen and his brother, Jamie, began appearing and soon became stars in their own right.

The result was their own program, “Road Tasted,” where they traveled the country in search of delicious food. With his brother, Deen has written a series of cookbooks: “The Deen Bros. Cookbook: Recipes from the Road” in 2007; “Y’all Come Eat” in 2008; “Take It Easy” in 2009; and “Get Fired Up” in 2011.

In 2010, the Deen brothers published four standalone magazines. They also have a line of spices, barbecue sauces and T-shirts sold at the Paula Deen Store at The Lady and Sons and online at pauladeenstore.com.

“Not My Mama’s Meals,” which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays, is filmed in Brooklyn, N.Y., but retains plenty of Southern taste and charm. “My goal is to give people an alternative with recipes that are healthy,” Deen says.

But the food must taste good and be easy to prepare. “What I’ve said more than once is I’m taking Sunday’s food and turning it into Monday’s.” Deen says.

The cookbook, which was just named Amazon’s Editors’ Pick for top cookbook for the month of February, includes such recipes as Cajun Sliders, Stick-To-Your-Ribs Chili, Bittersweet Chocolate Cake, Easy Ginger-Glazed Spare Ribs and many more.

“I’m really happy with the way my crab cakes turned out,” Deen says.

All of the recipes are healthy, even the desserts. “I’m not trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes,” Deen says. “My criteria are that the recipes be affordable and easy.

“It’s ironic that in this country we have a huge problem with both hunger and obesity,” he says. “Unfortunately, the worst foods are cheap and accessible.”

Deen also is proud of the book because it’s the first release he’s done on his own. “I love my family and enjoy working with them, but it’s nice to do this myself,” he says. “It’s a damn good book.”

Yes, everything the Deens do seems to turn to gold, but Deen isn’t about to take all the credit for that.

“Without the support and generosity we’ve received from the city of Savannah, this wouldn’t be possible,” he says. “Hopefully the book is useful and people will like it.”

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